View Full Version : Sub box
Before I start I must state that I know fapp all about car hi-fi so if you answer me please treat me like a total novice as my "too hard light" comes on at a very early stage!!! I have a s14 with the bog standard sony kit in it. I would like to improve the punch of the bass but not spend a shedload of cash on a new headunit. I was wondering if fitting a couple of boxed 8" subs in the boot would help. If this is the case what amp will need to drive them. I have had a look in the boot and there is a little shelf above the box section at the back of the boot which is about 11" tall which looks the idea place to stow a sub box. There are some good deals going on Sony xplod amp/sub packages in some of the mags. At a later stage I would replace the component speakers and maybe the head unit but thought this may be a start. Any ideas most welcome. http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/confused.gif
Hey Big Red,
The little shelf thing is the Fuel tank, so be careful and don't drill into it to secure anything onto it.
Theres enough space up there to hold 8" subs, the amp depends really on how much power the subs require.
The Xplod stuff from Sony is a good start for an upgrade. Not sure on the Specs though.
If you're thinking of future upgrades for the front speakers, I would suggest thinking ahead and go for 10" subs, which will give you enough bass to match the fronts once you've changed them. Obviously, the 10" won't fit above the tank though. Just a thought.
Regards
Didin
I have a carpetted wooden board, secured (carefully) on the little shelf behind the rear seats, which I use as an amp board, and might impressive it looks too http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/smile.gif Keeps the amps safe from flying debris in the boot.
I have a 2x12" sub box in the boot, which gives plenty of good bass, but tends to vibrate the parcel shelf a bit http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/redface.gif I don't know how to fix that yet http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/frown.gif
You need to be careful when getting a sub box, as my original one would have fitted inside the boot - but wouldn't go through the narrow opening caused by the shell folding round over the rear quarters and restricting boot access - so I had to buy another smaller box.
Thanx Didin
If I went for 10's where is the best place in the boot for them. The autochanger is on the r/h/s and the spare takes up most of the boot and leaves no level surfaces to place a box? This is why I thought 8's over the tank would be good. How have u done yours( if you have) Oh ta for the tank tip!!! That could have been scary!!!! http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/eek.gif
Hey Jackal,
Yes my parcel shelf buzzes too but because of me zorst!! I think the "carpet" fuzzy trim on top is to blame. It looks like it is fixed by pop fixings, I may take them off and put some carpet tape under the trim to fix it securely. This should help.
dunno if youve ever heard of them, but the finest box Ive ever heard is called a Depth Charge.
Theyd make a bloke with a comb and some tracing paper sound bassy. http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif
Bit large though http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/frown.gif
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92 200SX, grey
K+N 57i (Im ready for max power now!!)
Bit of ICE, cant be arsed to take the dash off to put more in
Manual, for I have the stick in the middle of my car and in the middle of my legs
Never refuse a challenge!!
gentlemen prefer blondes ......
Hi Big Red,
Have a look at the pics in my Profile. I've just uploaded 3 new ones called install left small.jpg, install right small.jpg & Install top small.jpg.
I've just taken this install out of my car and revamping the lot. You can see the 2 10" subs on either side of the boot and the CD changer on the tank. The 3 amps are mounted on the boot floor (the 3 amps are for sale if you're interested).
This might give you an idea of an install in a 200SX.
Cheers
Didin
AshT_200
10-12-2001, 18:04
Originally posted by docwra:
dunno if youve ever heard of them, but the finest box Ive ever heard is called a Depth Charge.
Theyd make a bloke with a comb and some tracing paper sound bassy. http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/biggrin.gif
Bit large though http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/frown.gif
Aylestone make em. JLAudio makes some good ones to.
Aylestone is actually about 1/4 mile away from me. Nice shop, bloke who runs it is a prize wan-ker though
Nice car Didin, took a look at the pics. It would appear that you have a space saver to enable you to have the amps and sub boxes mounted like that or did you put a false floor in. I may be interested in the amps but as yet don't really know whats required to do the job. Drop me an e-mail (graham.leaney@virgin.net) so I can pick you brain for some ideas.
Cheers Matey.
Yes, I beleive the S14a comes with a space saver spare. And yes, I also built a false floor on top of the spare for the amps, but the whole floor lifts up to get at the spare if required. Nothing extravagant, just half inch MDF using the original cardboard floor as a template for cutting.
Hows about you drop me an email with if you have any specific questions, or it cool to post them here as you'll get more ideas from everyone else looking at the post. Up to you. You can e-mail me by clicking on the e-mail icon on the header of each post.
Didin
I may have to get a space saver from somewhere I think. How did you fix the autochanger on to the fuel tank, Velcro or something?
Yep, Just heavy duty Velcro does the job.
If you move the CD changer to the fuel tank, you'll have space for 1 10" sub, which should give a decent amount of Bass if everything else is running off the head unit's power.
You could probably squeeze a 12" in that space given the right box shape for the speaker, which would be good enough for later upgrades.
You can get both 10 & 12" subs that will take 1000W RMS which will sound much better than some multi subs configurations which require just 150 - 200W RMS each. Obviously, we're talking lots of money though.
Just a thought.
Didin
Errr right, http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/confused.gif
I have been looking thro this months "lax bowels" mag ( Don't laugh, it had a nice RX7 on the cover!!!) and there is a place in there selling 10" sony xplod 600w subs for 30squid. I thought I might get one of these with a box and maybe an xplod xm 255 300w amp to power it. Will this be adequate to run alongside the standard s14 head/component set up for the mo. At a later stage I will get an amp to power the fronts and rears (will I need a 4 channel for this?) and upgrade the components too.
Hows that???? http://300zx.co.uk/200sx/ubb/confused.gif
Sounds Perfect, & 30 Macaroonies for a 600W Sub - Bargain!!!
Yep, that'll give you plenty of bass with everything else running off the head unit.
However, the bass might sound a bit "lacking" when you get the components running off an external amp though. But then you can get around that by getting a bigger amp on the 10. If the sub is rated at 600W RMS, then you should give it 600W RMS, you won't beleive the difference the right amount of power will make to the quality and loudness of the sub!
Brilliant! That's the bass sorted then!! (I found a place that can supply the 10" with a box and xm255 amp for 135 delivered, sound alright?)
I had a look at the components available today. What size are the standard S14 ones? I will probably stay with Sony xplod for these. They do 17cm & 13cm 3ways rated at160w & 200w respectively and 13cm & 17cm 2 watts rated at 12w & 140w respectively. Which ones will work best, is it best to get the speakers and run them off the head unit then get the amp to boost them or get an amp to boost the existing speakers then upgrade the speakers. Will the head unit power the speakers I have listed until I get an amp to do the job properly.
andy bird
12-12-2001, 16:43
check out my ad in the for sale section i'm sure others will agree that its a bargain!!!!!!
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Andy B
Purple 95 S14
K+N Filter
Soon to fit 18" Superleggers & full custom Stainless Exhaust
I have 16cm (6.5") in the front doors and the rear shelf of my S14a, I'm pretty sure they're the same in the S14.
Upgrading the comps whilst still running off the head unit will, if anything, make them sound a little inferior to the OEM speakers. This is because the upgrade speakers are designed to run with lots of power from an external amp, not the puny 15W from the head unit.
Amping the OEM speakers will make a lot of difference to the loudness and quality, you'll immediately notice the sudden crispness of the sound, esp at higher volumes.
My suggestion would be to Amp the OEM speakers, rather than upgrade them to run off the Head unit.
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